10 Things That May Surprise You About Works of Art at The National Gallery, London

In 1824 the House of Commons of the United Kingdom agreed to pay £57,000 for the art collection of the wealthy banker John Julius Angerstein. His 38 pictures became the core of a new national collection. Great encouragement came from another collector, Sir George Beaumont, who donated 16 paintings to the new gallery and in 1838 the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square finally opened its doors. Why not engage a Blue Badge Tourist Guide to take you on a tailor-made tour, explaining the significance and fascinating details about some of the masterpieces on view. Here are a few snippets to wet your appetite:

1. An Allegory with Venus and Cupid was probably painted as a gift for François I of France. Its central figure Venus is incestuously embraced by her son Cupid while in the left background a screaming figure is clutching its head. This figure may represent Jealousy or Despair but according to another theory it is a personification of Syphilis which had recently arrived in Europe. The French called it the ‘Neapolitan disease’, the English and Italians called it the ‘French disease’’, the Russians called it the ‘Polish disease’ and so on. The National Gallery’s first director knew that “clergymen & others” would disapprove of the picture, so his restorer removed Venus’s searching tongue and the nipple between Cupid’s fingers. The National Gallery: Bronzino – An Allegory with Venus and Cupid. Photo Credit: @ The National Gallery, London.

In the early days some visitors to the National Gallery were able to enjoy picnics on the floor if they offered the police officer on duty a glass of gin in advance! Although such pleasures can no longer be enjoyed, we can assure you that a tailor-made tour with a Blue Badge Tourist Guide will lift your spirits to new heights!

I initially trained to be an actress at the Drama Studio, London, invaluable background when qualifying as a Blue Badge guide, enabling me to hold the attention of both large and intimate audiences. I have a 1st class Honours degree (University of London) and a Diploma in Art History….

2015 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon. In celebration of the allied victory, George IV created the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle, a grand space filled with portraits of those instrumental in the victory, among them the Duke of Wellington.